Frequently asked questions
It is a little known fact that one in five people over the age of 50 suffer hearing loss. Research shows that, on average, it can take people seven years before accepting the problem and seek advice.
So, how do you recognise hearing loss?
If you or someone you know is not sure whether they have hearing loss, answer the following questions:
- Do you regularly have to ask people to repeat themselves?
- Do you have problems hearing the television, radio or telephone?
- Do you struggle to hear in noisy environments?
- Do you ever confuse words or misunderstand conversations?
- Are you ever confused as to where sounds are coming from?
A ‘yes’ to any of these questions may indicate that you or may have some degree of hearing loss and it would be advisable to have your hearing checked. This can be done by your doctor who may refer you to the hospital for testing, or to a company like ourselves. You may also arrange an appointment direct with ourselves completely free of charge.
A little known fact is that hearing loss does not necessarily mean you need hearing aids; there are different types of hearing loss and hearing aids don’t suit everyone:
Our trained audiologists will be able to advise as to the best course of treatment or assistance available to you.
- Sensorineural hearing loss: Damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve. Mainly due to wear and tear; noise and many other factors can cause this.
- Conductive hearing loss: Damage to the outer and/or middle ear. This can be due to injury or caused by infections amongst other causes.
- Mixed hearing loss: Some people have a combination of the above.
A hearing test is painless and will establish the degree of your hearing loss and determine whether hearing aids will be beneficial. This will depend on the type and degree of loss but also your lifestyle and your need for improvement. Your ears will be examined using an Otoscope (a small torch light instrument) then tested using an audiometer (which shows the extent of the hearing loss). Sometimes speech clarity testing is also used. If hearing aids are recommended, it is possible to sample the benefit of better hearing. This will help you when deciding which hearing aids to choose.
Digital hearing instruments represent the most advanced hearing aid technology available, with several benefits:
- The instrument is tailor programmed to suit the individual
- Annoying ‘whistling’ (feedback) is reduced
- Background noise is less noticeable
- Digital instruments have a longer life span
- Digital instruments have less distortion of sound
- Digital instruments have better, more natural sound quality
These benefits will vary according to the size (behind the ear, in the ear, or very small aids completely in the canal) and the capacity of the computer chip (digital aids are now available in a range of prices to suit most budgets). Remember: not everyone will benefit from the top-of-the-range products and no hearing aid can return damaged hearing back to normal. They can however, improve your quality of life using the hearing you have left.
